Springfield officer in pedestrian fatal is on paid leave

The paid leave is not a step taken as part of any disciplinary action, he noted.

"This situation is not unlike any other critical incident where a death is involved," Moody said.

Placing a law enforcement officer on paid leave after a mentally traumatic situation such as a fatal crash or officer-involved shooting is common practice among any division, said Lt. Brian Aller, commander of the Ohio Highway Patrol post at Springfield.

The patrol is conducting the investigation into the crash that left 45-year-old Steven Rintamaki dead.

According to the police division, the officer was attempting to stop a suspected drunk driver when a man apparently ran into the side of a police cruiser at Lagonda and Old Lagonda avenues, in an unmarked section of the road, at about 10:45 p.m. The officer attempted CPR but Rintamaki died at the scene.

Officer Scott was treated at Springfield Memorial Hospital for minor injuries from broken glass from the cruiser.